✦ Mihintale, Anuradhapura · Buddhist festival
Poson
The June full moon that marks the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka — pilgrims in white climb Mihintale and gather in Anuradhapura.
Photo: Rambukwelladk / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
When it usually happens
- JanNot usually
- FebNot usually
- MarNot usually
- AprNot usually
- MayNot usually
- JunUsually takes place
- JulNot usually
- AugNot usually
- SepNot usually
- OctNot usually
- NovNot usually
- DecNot usually
Many Sri Lankan festivals follow the lunar calendar, so exact dates change every year — check the official dates before booking.
Overview
Poson, on the full-moon (Poya) day of June, commemorates the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka with the Arahat Mahinda in the 3rd century BCE. According to tradition, Mahinda met King Devanampiya Tissa at Mihintale, near Anuradhapura.
Each year thousands of pilgrims, mostly dressed in white, climb the stairways of Mihintale and visit the sacred sites of Anuradhapura. As at Vesak, lanterns, pandals and free dansal food stalls appear across the island.
Highlights
- Pilgrimage to the summit of Mihintale
- Sacred sites of Anuradhapura
- Pandals, lanterns and dansal stalls
Good to know
- Mihintale is extremely crowded on Poson — go very early
- Remove shoes and hats at temples; shoulders and knees covered
- Poya day: no alcohol sales
References / Sources
- Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau: https://www.srilanka.travel
- Central Cultural Fund: https://www.ccf.gov.lk
Location
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